Life as we knew it in 1966 - 1968

Our first home....................

Lower apartment ......1 bedroom/1bath.

The Morris Cafritz Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C. This is where we picked up our first "bundle of joy"--Matthew John.

The Hospital is now called United Medical Center.

Plaque on inside wall.

Monuments and Vietnam Memorial

Us in front of the Washington Monument.

Us with Abe..... How do we look with Abe? I remember a slide of us just like this photo......... only it was taken in 1967.

Vietnam Memorial....... This is a very impressive memorial. It lists all the names of service men and women who died in the conflict or who remain missing in Vietnam.

Washington Monument.................... It is the first Presidential memorial. It is 555 feet high but but we did not have the advance tickets to take the tour.

A memorial to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence...................

"And for the support of this declaration with a firm reliance

on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge

to each other and our lives our fortunes and our sacred

honor."

Pentagon Memorial and the Capitol Building

The Pentagon Memorial......
To honor the 184 people whose lives were lost.
their families, and all those who sacrifice that we may live
in freedom...... WE WILL NEVER FORGET ............

President Washington started with the design of the Capitol in 1793. However it wasn't until 1863 that the rebuilding took the shape we presently recognize today. This was a great tour we had here at the Capitol.

The Apotheosis of George Washington.

This is on the dome of the Rotunda. It was just gorgeous. The fresco represents George Washington rising into the heavens, and flanked with female figures that represent Liberty and Freedom.

The enormous circular hall under the buildings dome is where eight huge oil painting hang. They depict signature events in American History, such as Columbus landing in the West Indies and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This is John with the 19 foot tall "Lady of Freedom". She sits on top of the Capitol building and John sits with me.

Courts and Money

The Supreme Court of the United States...... This is the third pillar of America's federal government. It wasn't until 1929 that the Chief Justice and the former President of the United States, William Howard Taft, was able to persuade Congress to give the court its own home. We went on a very interesting tour in this building.

John and I outside the Supreme Court Building.

Looking inside the Supreme Court chambers.

Statue honoring John Marshall Supreme Court Justice. Marshall dominated the Court for over three decades and he was the longest Supreme Court Justice in history.

Yes, we went to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. How tall are you in $100 bills???? John is $1,631,00.00 tall!!!!!!!!!

Smithsonians

This is the National History Museum, one of the Smithsonian Museum, here in Washington D.C. This is, I would guess, one of the greatest kids museum that I have ever seen. It ranges from bugs, moon rocks, sea animals, a saber-tooth tiger and dinosaurs..... and that is just to mention a few things. At the entrance you are greeted by an African Elephant that is 8 tons and 13 foot tall. It was like being in the movie....."A Night at the Museum".

National Museum of American History..... This museum is nothing but mind-boggling. What great collections!!!!! There are so many sections in this museum that it was hard to pick out only 3 more to show but here goes......

This is from a section that was called.... The First Ladies of the Smithsonian........ It was great to see the various items that the First Ladies have donated to the Smithsonian. The items arranges from their china, jewelry, gowns and there is a 8x10 photo of each first lady. This photo shows Martha Washington ball room dress.

This is the Bon Appetit Room...... Julia Child's kitchen which gave us a sneak peek into the famous chef's Massachusetts favorite room. We even watch her (on a monitor) prepare Beef Bourguignonne. Boy did it look good.

Because of the Great Depression, thousands of Americans took to living in their trailers year around. Although many people looked down on them, trailer parks provided a low cost housing alternative. John and I felt right at home........

Arlington Cemetery

Atop the Arlington Cemetery...... Did you know this sweeping view of the capitol area and this cemetery was once the home and property of Robert E. Lee? His home was called "Arlington House". Some 16,000 Union and Confederate soldiers are buried here. What a great way to help mend a divided Union.

We found the monument of the Rough Riders.

The monument of Pan Am Flight 103.

This is Ted Kennedy's resting place.

In midst of all the rain, this was a very sad site. The empty wagon of just buried soldiers.......... Their return home

Arlington National Cemetery

Welcome to Arlington National Cemetery...... Our Nations Most Sacred Grounds.......



And what Hallowed Grounds they are.............

This is a site to see..... The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, which holds the bodies of unidentified soldiers from WWI and WWII, the Korean War, is guarded by the soldiers of the Third Infantry. They changing of the guard is done in a reverent display of 21 steps which symbolizes the 21-gun national salute....... given to our nation's heroes.

This is the site of the Eternal Flame given to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our 35th President of the United States. Next to him are 3 other grave sites...... Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Patrick Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy (reserved). This is very touching to my heart because all the emotional days after his assassination. I will never forget how he led the country with his famous quote "Ask not what your Country can do for you ..... ask what you can do for your Country".

This simple grave site was also very tender to my heart because how it hit my home. Bobby Kennedy was the hope for a lot of young Americans, and my sister Mary was down at the National Headquarters in San Francisco working for his campaign. She had just seen him the night he was assassinated.